Articles
Choose a/an by sound and distinguish first from later mention; Use the for identifiable, unique and classified proper names; Use no article for general meaning and most place names.
1. Which phrase has the correct indefinite article?
Multiple Choice20sAa European university✓Ban European universityCa hour-long lectureDan useful reference💡 European and university begin with the consonant sound /j/, so they take a.
2. The choice between a and an depends on the sound that follows, not simply the first written letter.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 Use a before consonant sounds and an before vowel sounds.
3. We visited a new exhibition yesterday. _____ exhibition focused on climate design.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedThe💡 After first mention with a, the identifies the now-known exhibition.
4. Which sentence refers to a plural noun in general?
Multiple Choice20sAMuseums can make history accessible.✓BThe museums we visited were free.CA museums can make history accessible.DThe museum are generally accessible.💡 A general plural noun takes no article.
5. Match each place name to the correct article pattern.
Matching30sriver→the Danubesingle mountain→Mount Fujimountain range→the Himalayascity→Delhi💡 Rivers and ranges take the; single mountains and cities normally take no article.
6. The consultation lasted for _____ hour and a half.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedan💡 Hour begins with a vowel sound because h is silent.
7. Put the chunks in order to show first and later mention.
Put in Order30s- 1.I read
- 2.an article,
- 3.and
- 4.the article
- 5.was fascinating.
💡 A introduces the article; the refers back to the same identified item.
8. Which institutional name is correctly written?
Multiple Choice20sAthe British Museum✓BBritish MuseumCa British MuseumDan British Museum💡 Names of many museums, theatres, cinemas, hotels and galleries take the.
9. Most city and street names require the definite article.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 Say Paris, Manhattan and Fifth Avenue in the ordinary patterns.
10. For a general statement, complete with an article word or symbol: _____ information travels quickly online.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedØ · no article · zero article💡 Information is uncountable and general here, so no article is used.
11. Which phrase correctly uses the with a superlative?
Multiple Choice20sAthe most effective solution✓Bthe more effective solutionCmost effective solutionDthe most solution effective💡 Superlative noun phrases normally take the definite article.
12. Match each context to its correct noun phrase.
Matching30sOne non-specific item→a dictionary appA unique object in our solar system→the sunAn uncountable idea in general→musicA group of islands→the Bahamas💡 Specificity, uniqueness, general meaning and name class determine the article.
13. We crossed _____ Gobi Desert by jeep.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedthe💡 Desert names take the definite article.
14. Lake Superior and Mount Etna normally appear without an article.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 Individual lakes and mountains belong to the no-article place-name groups.
15. Which sentence has the correct article pattern?
Multiple Choice20sAThey moved from Germany to the Netherlands.✓BThey moved from the Germany to Netherlands.CThey moved from a Germany to a Netherlands.DThey moved from Germany to Netherlands the.💡 Most countries take no article, but plural country names such as the Netherlands take the.
16. Put the chunks in order to make a sentence about a specific museum.
Put in Order30s- 1.We visited
- 2.the Guggenheim Museum
- 3.in Bilbao
- 4.on
- 5.our final day.
💡 The museum name takes the, while Bilbao has no article.
17. She downloaded _____ useful app before the journey.
Fill the Gap20sAccepteda💡 Useful begins with the consonant sound /j/, so it takes a.
18. Which fixed transport expression is correct?
Multiple Choice20sAWe travelled by car.✓BWe travelled by the car.CWe travelled by a car.DWe travelled with car.💡 The fixed expression by + means of transport uses no article.
19. Because umbrella begins with the written letter u, it must take a rather than an.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 Sound, not the letter itself, determines a/an.
20. From the terrace, we had a clear view of _____ Nile.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedthe💡 Names of rivers take the definite article.